A SOLAR LENS AND SUPPORTER WITH A METHOD FOR PRODUCTION AND DEVICE FOR WATER, ELECTRICITY, STEAM AND HEAT PRODUCTION AND STORAGE, PLUS A FLUID PUMP

Abstract: The solar lens (1) is relatively thin and made of a relatively hard material such as polyester plastic, epoxy-resin, silicone-treated plastic, acrylic plastic, polycarbonate plastic or hydrophilic plastic or equivalent, and the lens is supported and retained by a gas balloon (2) or equivalent and/or supporters (3) such as reinforced plastic pipes or equivalent. The method for manufacturing a solar lens (1) or equivalent may be one in which the lens (1) or equivalent is cast and/or pressed into a mould or equivalent from a plastic material or equivalent as mentioned above, and the shape of the lens is produced by bloating membranes with a liquid, and the liquid is a hardenable plastic as mentioned above. At the focus of the solar lens (1) or equivalent there may be a water splitter (4) and an electricity generator (7) and the water may be passed from the electricity generator (7) back into the water splitter (4) to allow it to be again converted into hydrogen. The solar lens (1) may be combined directly with a steam generator or with a liquid pump e.g. for irrigation in equatorial countries. At the focus of the solar lens (1) there may be a heat accumulator tank (12), e.g. one containing salt, placed e.g. under the water splitter (4) and/or the electricity generator (7) and/or the vaporizer (9). Hot air may be passed from the heat accumulator (12) into the gas balloon (2) supporting the solar lens (1) to cause the lens to rise immediately upon sunrise. The focus may be covered with a vacuum glass (14) known in itself.

Description: A SOLAR LENS AND SUPPORTER WITH A METHOD FOR PRODUCTION AND DEVICE FOR WATER, ELECTRICΠΎ. STEAM AND HEAT PRODUCTION AND STORAGE. PLUS A FLUID PUMP The present invention relates to a solar lens obtained by improving the gas balloon thin lens presented in utility design FI 453, to a method for its manufacture and to an apparatus improved from utility designs FI 603 and 831 for the production and accumulation of hydrogen, electricity, steam and heat by means of the lens and for the pumping of liquid, e.g. by continuous operation day and night. The gas balloon thin lens presented in utility design FI 453 should be such as to retain its optical shape even when in an oblique position; furthermore, the relatively thin lens should be provided with a support and the gas balloon should raise the lens onto its support immediately upon sunrise, and the lens should be provided with means for direction adjustment and the lens should preferably be combined with an apparatus as defined in utility design FI 603 which uses a solar radiation focuser and produces electricity and which also produces hydrogen and steam, and correspondingly, it should be connected with a liquid pump focusing solar rays as defined in utility design FI 831 which produces steam and can pump e.g. irrigation water in equatorial countries, and said apparatus connected to the lens should operate day and night with a good efficiency, and the crystallization of salt should be made use of, and the aggregate should also preferably accumulate energy in liquid hydrogen. In the gas balloon thin lens of utility design 453, a liquid lens is formed between membranes by bloating and the lens is supported by a gas balloon, and a pressurized gas space on the surface of the lens keeps the liquid lens in its correct shape. For instance in solar power plants, when the liquid lens is directed towards the sun, it becomes thicker in its lower part and the optical shape of the liquid lens is lost. The electricity producing apparatus presented in utility design FI 603 is provided with a water splitter operating by means of a solar radiation focuser and producing hydrogen and oxygen and with hydrogen and oxygen pipes leading from the water splitter to the electrodes of an electricity producing fuel cell and with a water pipe leading from the fuel cell to the water splitter to permit the water to be again split into gases. The liquid pump with a solar radiation focuser defined in utility design FI 831 has a vaporization space at the focus of the lens, and the apparatus is provided with a back-pres¬ sure gas valve which passes water e.g. from a lake into the liquid space and the steam pressure forces the liquid e.g. into a water tank. As the water is converted into steam, its volume increases to multiple times the volume in liquid form, and so the liquid pump has a relatively high irriga¬ tion capacity as compared e.g. with previously known solar pumps if the lens retains a good optical shape. From the above-mentioned lens - gas balloon aggregate, it should be possible to put together a high-capacity solar power station which needs no expensive supporting structures or expensive machinery and which converts some 90 % of the incident solar energy into electricity, with production going on day and night. The water splitter works well when the optical shape of the lens is retained and when the lens is focused on the right spot in the apparatus and when heat dissipation from the apparatus is relatively low. The aggregate consisting of an apparatus producing electricity from hydrogen and a liquid pump should function in a corresponding manner. Previously known are solar cells of silicon which produce electricity directly from solar radiation, but they are so expensive in construction and have such a low efficiency in electricity production, about 12%, that building large solar power stations using solar cells has been and remains unprofitable. Previously known are also solar power stations using hundreds of mirrors to reflect the solar rays to a tower about 100 m high. In the tower, the concentrated solar energy heats a nitrate salt solution to about 750°C. The hot salt solution is pumped into a vaporizing apparatus and the steam thus produced is used to drive a steam turbine and a generator producing electricity. The heat stored in the salt can be used during peak consumption. The drawbacks of a solar power station like this include the following: The tower and mirrors form a relatively heavy and expensive structure, and a relatively large production unit is needed for operation. Because of the divergence of solar rays, reflecting them with planar mirrors cannot produce temperatures as high as those attained by using thin solar lenses. The piping and pumps needed to handle the salt solution are relatively expensive and when the salt gets too cool it is hardened and forms difficult blockages in the pumps and piping. The deformation crystallization heat of the salt is difficult to utilize when heat is stored for a longer period. A known water splitter operated by solar heat splits water into hydrogen and oxygen gases at a temperature as low as 750°C using a heavy metal catalyser. However, a more efficient formation of hydrogen and oxygen will be achieved without expensive catalysers if the operating temperature at the focus remains permanently at a sufficiently high level, e.g. over 2000°C. A method for thermodynamic splitting of water at a high temperature is described e.g. in the book "Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier" by Winter, p. 168 - 169. The thermal energy required for the splitting reaction can advantageously be obtained from solar radiation by using a thin solar lens of a diameter of e.g. 15 m if a constant optical shape of the lens can be retained even when the lens is tilted. The periodical "Tieteen Kuvalehti" 8/92 describes an appara¬ tus for generating electricity by means of fuel cells in which hydrogen and oxygen gases are combined at electrodes back into water molecules, producing an electric current. The operating temperature of the fuel cell is about 1000°C. The ceramic fuel cells can withstand temperatures exceeding 2000°C. The splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen gases re¬ quires heat and the recombination of hydrogen and oxygen can be effected quickly and advantageously at a high temperature without catalysts, provided that the temperature is suffi¬ ciently high. When the reactions take place in succession and in the same apparatus, energy losses can be brought to a relatively low level and the consumption of water is also reduced. Generating electricity from hydrogen produces no pollution and no dangerous radiation. Hydrogen can be advan¬ tageously stored in liquefied form. A known liquefying device is the electric compressor. The required high temperature achieved by means of e.g. a large thin lens allows a water splitter and an electricity generator to be combined into an apparatus in which the splitting of water into hydrogen and the conversion of hydrogen into electric current take place advantageously in a successive and continuous reaction. It is also possible to connect a steam producing device to the apparatus, and a heat accumulator provided in the apparatus allows the hydro¬ gen and steam and heat to be advantageously utilized even during cold periods, and by connecting a hydrogen liquefier to the apparatus energy can be advantageously accumulated. Previously known are e.g. clear polycarbonate plastics and hydrophilic plastics with a 50-60% liquid content which can be cast or pressed in a mould into the shape of a thin lens. The surface of a hydrophilic lens can be provided with a film of waterproof material . Previously known are clear liquid resins such as e.g. polyester and epoxy resin which are hardened by the action of a hardener. Also known are clear acrylic and silicone plastics which are hardened by themselves by the action of the oxygen present in the air. There are also known liquids which are hardened when cooled or heated. E.g. the plastics referred to can be cast into a lens mould and they can be bloated in liquid form e.g. on a taut membrane or between membranes into the shape of a thin lens. Patent applications FI 922793 and PCT/FI 93/00257 present a solar heat collector having a solar radiation arrester under a liquid jacket, said arrester consisting of a mineral wool board with a black surface, e.g. black fibre glass. The collector can be used advantageously e.g. for the preheating of large quantities of water. The collector has a relatively good efficiency because, unlike metal surfaced collectors, the sun's rays are not reflected back. The collector has a relatively good efficiency if the temperature is raised only to about 50°C. For instance in district heating plants, the water temperature should be raised from the return water temperature of about 40°C to about 90°C. By using the solar heat collector in combination with a solar lens and a salt accumulator, it will be possible to accumulate enough heat in summer time for the heating of water e.g. for a week during cloudy days. By using solar lenses with a diameter of about 5 m and a salt accumulator of about 1000 m, district heating plants could also utilize the crystallization heat of salt to accumulate heat e.g. for the cold winter time. E.g. application WO 90/10182 presents a parabolic mirror reflecting solar radiation. Application DE 3920186 presents a spherical mirror reflecting solar radiation, supported by wire cables. Patent specification FI 63117 presents a solar cell provided with liquid lenses for heat accumulation. Application WO 90/5881 presents a solar panel with cylindrical lenses. The previously known glass and plastic lenses and parabolic reflectors can produce relatively high temperatures, but they are relatively thick and heavy and they need massive and expensive supporting structures. And the temperature achieved is not sufficient for quick splitting of water e.g. by the high-temperature splitting method. The grinding of an 8-m glass lens takes up about one year and the lens weighs ca. 20 t. A large, thin solar lens having a diameter of e.g. 15 m and supported by a gas balloon can be produced in a few hours when manufactured individually and in a few minutes in serial production. For instance, planets and galaxies can be observed with a thin lens telescope having a diameter of 40 m and supported by a gas balloon better than with smaller telescopes. The energy can be profitably transmitted in the form of electricity when the distance is under 1000 km, but for larger distances a hydrogen gas pipe is considered more advantageous. In the Nordic countries for example, hydrogen produced by solar energy can be stored relatively advantageously in liquid form for winter. Solar-energy based hydrogen can be profitably distributed the the users via the existing net¬ work of natural gas pipes. The water splitter, electricity generator and steam generator placed in the focus are rela¬ tively small and inexpensive, allowing a fairly large solar power station to be assembled from them at a low cost. In addition to large solar power stations in equatorial coun¬ tries, they can be advantageously used e.g. in the Nordic countries e.g. in small electric district heating power plants and in solar power stations owned by industrial enterprises to produce electricity and district heat during summer time. The construction of solar power stations has been hampered by the absence of large but light and rigid thin lenses that retain their shape and function without heavy supporting structures. Using solar lenses, it is possible to assemble a solar power station of an area of 1 km 2 which, by means of a water splitter known in itself, produces hydrogen gas at a rate corresponding to 500 MW. Solar lenses must also be capable of producing electricity and steam directly. The object of the present invention is to achieve an improved lens for a solar power station and a method for its manufacture, a lens which, though it is relatively thin and light, still retains its optical shape well even when in an oblique position. Moreover, the lifting up and alignment of the lens and its suspension in the air are implemented in an advantageous manner. A further object of the invention is to achieve a combined lens - water splitter - electricity generator and a steam generator of cheap construction and with a good efficiency which, when connected to an accumulator, produce hydrogen and electricity and heat advantageously even during cold periods, and the apparatus also functions as a liquid pump and as a hydrogen liquefier. These objects are achieved on the basis of the features of the invention as defined in the claims . In the following, the invention is described in detail by referring to the attached sectional drawings, which present in reduced size: FIG. 1 a lens on a scale of about 1 : 200. On a scale of 1:20 and provided with a heat accumulator, a combined lens apparatus: FIG. 2 a water splitter - hydrogen and electricity generator, FIG. 3 a vaporizer and FIG. 4 a vaporizer liquid pump. The solar lens (1) is relatively thin and made of a rela¬ tively hard material such as polyester plastic, epoxy-resin, silicone-treated plastic, acrylic plastic, polycarbonate plastic or hydrophilic plastic or equivalent, and the lens is supported and retained by a gas balloon (2) or equivalent and/or supporters (3) such as reinforced plastic pipes or equivalent. The solar lens (1 ) may be placed on the surface of a gas balloon (2) or equivalent, e.g. between the surface mem¬ branes of a gas balloon (2). The method for manufacturing a solar lens ( 1 ) or equivalent may be one in which the lens (1) or equivalent is cast and/or pressed into a mould or equivalent from a plastic material or equivalent as mentioned above. The method for manufacturing a solar lens (1 ) may be one in which the shape of the lens is produced by bloating mem¬ branes with a liquid, e.g. by forcing the liquid between two taut membranes, and the liquid is a hardenable plastic or equivalent, such as an elastic cellular plastic or equi¬ valent, brought under the membrane to support it. The supporters (3) of the solar lens (1) or equivalent may be connected to a direction adjustment device (15) or equivalent which turns the lens towards the sun. At the focus of the solar lens (1 ) or equivalent there may be a water splitter (4) or equivalent for the production of hydrogen, known in itself. The water splitter (4) or equivalent is provided with holes (5 and 6) for hydrogen and oxygen gases, said holes leading from the water splitter (4) to the electrodes of an electricity generator (7) or equivalent known in itself, e.g. one surrounding the water splitter (4). From the electricity generator (7) of the combined water splitter - electricity generator a hole (8) or equivalent may lead into the water splitter (4) to allow the water to be again reduced to gas. At the focus of the solar lens ( 1 ) or equivalent there may be a vaporization space (9), e.g. a transparent spherical space or equivalent, which is provided with a water inlet opening (10) such as a valve and a water and/or steam outlet opening (11) such as a valve, or equivalent. At the focus of the solar lens ( 1 ) or equivalent there may be the vaporization space (9) of a liquid pump known in itself and the back-pressure gas valve (10) of • the liquid pump may pass water (17) or equivalent e.g. from a lake into the liquid space (18) and the steam pressure may be utilized to force the liquid e.g. via a back-pressure valve (19) into a liquid tank or directly to a place of irrigation and/or to force the steam via a back-pressure valve (11) into a steam-operated device. At the focus of the solar lens (1) or equivalent there may be a heat accumulator tank (12), e.g. one containing salt, placed e.g. under the water splitter (4) and/or the electricity generator (7) and/or the vaporizer (9). The heat accumulator tank (12) may contain a salt known in itself which crystallizes at a temperature of about 150°C and/or about 150-350°C. The heat accumulator tank (12) may contain black salt or an equivalent heat accumulating substance coloured with a dark colour. The heat accumulator tank (12) may be provided with a heat exchanger (13) for the heating of water and/or steam and/or air and/or for continuous production of steam and/or hydro¬ gen even during cold periods. The gas balloon (2) may contain hot air lighter than air. The hot air may be passed into the gas balloon (2) from the focus of the solar lens (1) e.g. via the heat exchanger (13) of the heat accumulator tank (12) and/or via the lens sup¬ porters (3) and/or lens directors (15), e.g. to cause the lens to rise at sunrise by means of hot air. At the focus there may be a board of mineral wool (16) with a black surface, e.g. black glass fibre or equivalent, placed under the vaporization space (9) or equivalent, and/or a corresponding heat insulator which is moved aside when solar radiation is applied to the heat accumulating material in the heat accumulator tank (12) under the insulator. The focus or equivalent may be covered with a vacuum glass (14) or equivalent. The liquid or air to be heated or vaporized may be caused to circulate through the liquid jacket of a heat collector which has a solar radiation arrester consisting of a black-surfaced mineral wool board under the liquid jacket, or through an equivalent collector of solar heat. The hydrogen and/or steam produced by the apparatus may be passed into a hydrogen liquefier known in itself, e.g. a vacuum compressor.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Solar lens (1), characterized in that it is relatively thin and made of a relatively hard material such as polyes¬ ter plastic, epoxy-resin, silicone-treated plastic, acrylic plastic, polycarbonate plastic or hydrophilic plastic or equivalent, and the lens is supported and retained by a gas balloon (2) or equivalent and/or supporters (3) such as reinforced plastic pipes or equivalent. 2. Method for manufacturing a solar lens (1) or equivalent as defined in claim 1 , characterized in that the lens is cast and/or pressed into a mould or equivalent and/or the shape of the lens is produced by bloating membranes with a liquid, e.g. by forcing the liquid between two taut mem¬ branes, and the liquid is a hardenable plastic or equivalent as mentioned in claim 1. 3. Solar lens (1) or equivalent as defined in claim 1, characterized in that at the focus of the solar lens (1 ) there is a water splitter (4) or equivalent known in itself. 4. Water splitter (4) as defined in claim 3, characterized in that the water splitter (4) or equivalent is provided with holes (5 and 6) or equivalent for hydrogen and oxygen gases, leading from the water splitter (4) to the electrodes of an electricity generator (7) or equivalent known in itself and e.g. surrounding the water splitter (4). 5. Combined water splitter - electricity generator as de¬ fined in claim 4, characterized in that a hole (8) or equi¬ valent leads from the electricity generator (7) of the com¬ bined water splitter - electricity generator into the water splitter (4) to allow the water to be again reduced to gas. 6. Solar lens (1) or equivalent as defined in claim 1, characterized in that there is at its focus a vaporization space (9), e.g. a transparent spherical space or equivalent, provided with a water inlet opening (10) such as a valve and a water and/or steam outlet opening (11) such as a valve, or equivalent. 7. Solar lens (1) or equivalent as defined in claim 1, characterized in that there is at its focus the vaporization space (9) of a liquid pump known in itself and the back¬ pressure gas valve (10) of the liquid passes water (17) or equivalent e.g. from a lake into the liquid space (18) and the steam pressure is used to force the liquid e.g. via a back-pressure valve (19) into a liquid tank or directly to a place of irrigation and/or to force the steam via a back¬ pressure valve (11) into a steam-operated device. 8. Solar lens (1) or equivalent as defined in claim 1, characterized in that there is at its focus a heat accumula¬ tor tank (12), e.g. one containing black salt or equivalent, placed e.g. under the water splitter (4) and/or the elec¬ tricity generator (7) and/or the vaporizer (9) or equivalent, 9. Heat accumulator tank (12) or equivalent as defined in claim 8, characterized in that it is provided with a heat exchanger (13) for the heating of water and/or steam and/or air and/or for continuous production of steam and/or hydrogen even during cold periods. 10. Gas balloon (2) or equivalent as defined in claim 1, characterized in that it contains hot air or equivalent which is lighter than air, the hot air being heated e.g. by the focus, the solar lens (1) being e.g. caused to rise at sunrise by means of air heated by the accumulator salt. 11. Device as defined in any one of the preceding claims, placed at the focus of a solar lens (1) as defined in claim 1, characterized in that there is a vacuum glass (14) or equivalent on and/or around the focus. 12. Apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims, producing hydrogen and/or steam and/or electricity, charac¬ terized in that the hydrogen and/or steam produced by it is passed into a hydrogen liquefier known in itself, such as a vacuum compressor.

Inventors: REIALA MAUNO SAKARI, REIALA, MAUNO, SAKARI
Applicants: REIALA MAUNO SAKARI, REIALA, MAUNO, SAKARI
Application year: 1994
Main classification: F24J2
IPC codes: B29C43, B29D11, C01B3, F24J2, G02B3